Biozone air purifiers use a
unique, patent-pending process to create powerful purifying
hydroxyls, or hydroxyl radicals (OH) as their main air
purification method. These natural air-cleansing agents are significantly
more powerful than plain ozone, (Purifying
Plasma). Our patent- pending process allows
Biozone units to only require a very small amount of ozone to produce large
amounts of hydroxyls using the natural humidity in the air. Hydroxyl
radicals, which occur naturally in our atmosphere, are 33%
more effective at oxidizing pollutants in the air than ozone, and
2.5 times more germicidal and fungicidal than chlorine, making them the most
effective method of destroying mold, bacteria, viruses, and germs that you can
buy. Hydroxyls have also been proven effective at eliminating chemical
fumes, vapors, and unpleasant odors, much more so, again, than plain ozone. (Biozone Purifiers
Compared to Others)
Why Are Hydroxyls An Important
Part of Our Air?
Hydroxyls are the
atmosphere's natural
filter. Several recent studies have brought to light some alarming facts:
According to a
New
York Times article (May, 2001), hydroxyl radicals are thought by
atmospheric chemistry scientists to purge more than half the sulfur dioxide
added to the air by smokestacks, volcanoes, and other sources.
An international study being conducted over the
Indian Ocean which, in part, measured hydroxyl radical levels, led a team of
atmospheric experts to conclude that without hydroxyl radicals, air pollution
can remain at toxic and harmful levels for much longer, increasing the
likelihood of negative effect on humans. More than half a million people die
in India every year of pollution-related respiratory ailments; similar numbers
are recorded in other Asian countries. It is a known fact that hydroxyl
radicals are necessary for natural air cleansing and toxin removal.
Hydroxyls are why our planet hasn't choked itself to death and the reason we
can live at all in our cities.
How Biozone Air
Purifiers Produce Powerful Hydroxyl Radicals
Biozone air purifiers produce just enough ozone
- and it is a very small amount - to enable the production of hydroxyl
radicals. Ozone, or O3,
is produced by our patented UV lamp (we do not use the older corona discharge
method) inside the unit. Other wavelengths of light produced by this lamp
break the O3
into O2
(oxygen) and O1
(oxygen singlets). The O1
molecules are highly reactive and will readily combine with hydrogen (H) atoms
that are found in the natural humidity in the air to make OH - hydroxyl
radicals. These hydroxyl radicals are an extremely powerful air purifying
agent, much more so than ozone and without the undesirable side effects
commonly associated with air cleaners whose primary method of air cleansing is
ozone, (Purifying Plasma).
Biozone's patented split, quartz-fused UV lamp
is the key to this amazing new technology. It, along with patented
electronic technology, allows Biozone air purifiers to produce a much more
consistent UV wavelength, which results in continuous production of large
volumes of safe and effective hydroxyl radicals. This is truly a breakthrough
in air purification technology - and only Biozone has it.
The
exclusive
12-volt power supply and constant-wattage, solid-state circuitry eliminate
the power fluctuations and cyclical surges that plague all other UV air
purifiers on the market today. Power surges cause inconsistency of the UV
wavelength, and this results in erratic production of hydroxyl radicals and
"blasts" of ozone.
Ultraviolet light has been used for years by the
medical field to sanitize rooms and equipment, and is recognized by
Centers for Disease Control for its ability to effectively destroy
germs and other biological pollutants. Now Biozone brings this technology to home air purification.
Ultraviolet light from the sun destroys viruses,
bacteria, fungi, and other pollutants, including mold spores.
Biozone UV lamps offer a much higher concentration of ultraviolet light than
even the sun. UV light damages the DNA structure of the
microorganism, causing its destruction. Once the UV light
sterilizes the pollutant, it is no longer able to reproduce (which is how
harmful microorganism levels are sustained and increased). It then becomes
inactivated, or microbiologically dead, rendering it harmless. Since the
ultraviolet light is only directed inside the unit, there are no
potential harmful side effects.
These UV lamps treat the air that enters the
Biozone's chamber through the indoor environment's natural air currents, and
also with its fan. Plus, Biozone uses a unique convection process to
draw additional air through the unit, above and beyond what is
achieved by way of natural air currents and the fan. The purified air is then
blown back out with a small, quiet fan.
Biozone's UV lamps are powered by 12 volt direct
current (internally generated), which provides constant wattage without
fluctuation. Fluctuating power has traditionally been a problem spot as far as
UV light generation is concerned, but has finally been addressed with
Biozone's revolutionary technology.
Biozone's UV technology also enables
the units to
only utilize a very, very small amount of ozone to produce powerful purifying
agents without high voltage or undesirable byproducts, (Purifying
Plasma).
Ozone
is generated naturally by short-wave solar ultraviolet radiation,
and appears in our upper atmosphere (ozonosphere) in the form of a gas.
Ozone also may be produced naturally by passing an electrical discharge - such
as lightning - through oxygen molecules. Lightning is a perfect example of
making an abundance of O3 to purify the earth's atmosphere Nature's way. Most
of us have noticed the clean, fresh smell in the outdoor air after a
thunderstorm, or the way clothing smells after it's been dried outside on a
clothesline in the sun.
Oxygen
Molecules
Oxygen, as we know, has two atoms. High
voltage, as from lightning, breaks these two atoms apart. Quickly, these atoms
hop back together in threes {O3}. Confused, these atoms do not like this
arrangement and want desperately to dissolve this uncomfortable trio. So as
this O3 molecule floats in the air, when one of the atoms spots a contaminant
molecule to attach itself to, it breaks away from the other two atoms. To its
surprise, this attachment is actually an attack on the contaminant and creates
a microscopic explosion. Both the contaminant and the atom are destroyed. This
leaves the other two atoms behind as pure oxygen {O2} without the
presence of the contaminant. The explosion changes the contaminant into
carbon dioxide and hydrogen, which we can breathe.
Ozone
Molecules (O3) converted from oxygen (O2) as
a result of an electrical charge.
Should the O3 molecule not find a
contaminant in its environment, it will attack itself to change
its configuration of O3 back to O2 (normal oxygen) in 20 to 30 minutes at room
temperature and normal humidity.
One oxygen atom splits off to oxidize
contaminant, leaving behind breathable oxygen and purified air.
Ozone is highly reactive, so
it interacts with most contaminates and allergens it encounters.
The "lightning method" of ozone
production has been duplicated commercially by many manufacturers of ozonating
air purifiers and is known as corona discharge. In this method,
5,000 to 10,000 volts of electricity is used to split the O2 atoms to produce
ozone. However, in addition to safety concerns and high operating costs, air
purifiers utilizing the corona discharge method are plagued by unpredictable
levels of ozone production - ozone "blasts" - and also
produce undesirable and unhealthful byproducts such as nitric oxides. These
oxides actually irritate the respiratory system - not what you want in
an air purifier. So in spite of claims that these units give you a
"thunderstorm in a box," they have clear drawbacks.
Short-wave solar
ultraviolet radiation - ultraviolet light - is another method used
by many air purifier manufacturers. When ultraviolet light rays collide with a
contaminant such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NO2 and N2O) in
the presence of oxygen (O2), ozone is produced.
Ozone reacts with and oxidizes pollutants it
encounters, rendering them harmless, while also removing odors. O3
loses one of its oxygen molecules in this oxidation process, causing it to
revert back to oxygen, leaving behind pure, fresh air. Ozone can be effective
against chemical sources, bacteria, mold, odors, etc. Once a
pollutant is oxidized by ozone, it is no longer toxic, allergenic, or odor
causing. As a result, even if an oxidized contaminant remains in the air and
is inhaled, it has no negative effect. Microorganisms (such as mold spores or
bacteria) that have been exposed to ozone are no longer able to reproduce,
which causes their numbers to quickly diminish.
Most ozone air purifiers
use the corona discharge method for creating ozone, which is not
as reliable and consistent. As a result, there is more of a
likelihood that such a unit will need repair work, and that it will produce
excessive ozone levels, unlike the Biozone air cleaning system.
How Else Does Ozone
Purify?
Ozone is also biocidal -
which means it kills harmful biological and bacterial contaminants. This
biocidal action results from its reaction with the double bonds of fatty acids
in bacterial cell walls, membranes and the protein capsid of viruses. In
bacteria, the oxidation results in a change in cell permeability and leakage
of cell contents into solution. Ozone attacks these cell walls, breaking down
membranes and ultrastructural components of the organism. In more simple
terms, the unstable electrons of ozone blast holes through the membranes. This
occurs by cell lysing or rupturing the cell wall of viruses, bacteria, yeast,
and abnormal tissue cells, thereby destroying them by inactivation of the
microorganism's enzymes. In viruses, alteration of the protein capsid prevents
the virus from being taken up by susceptible cells.
Ozone displays an "all
or nothing" effort in terms of destroying bacteria. It is such a
strong germicide that only a few micrograms per liter are required to
demonstrate germicidal action. Factors like humidity, temperature, pH, ozone
concentration levels, type of organism and time, determine the kill rate for
pathogens. The action of ozone gas in water is instantaneous. After oxidation,
ozone returns to its original form of oxygen, without leaving any toxic
by-products or residues.
Ozone oxidizes natural organic
compounds like acetic and oxalic acids, as well as synthetic substances like
nitro- and chloro-benzic compounds, detergents, herbicides and composite
pesticides. Ozone oxidizes inorganics such as iron, manganese, heavy metals,
cyanide, sulfides, and nitrates in water. Ozone retards the ripening of
fruits and vegetables by destroying ethylene gas and bad odors, which are
produced by aging and decay.
Ozone is more cost-effective
than ethylene filters, which are costly and have to be replaced each month.
Filters only act on the air that happens to pass through them, and ionization
machines put a negative charge on air particles in the air which causes them
to gravitate to room surfaces. Unlike ozone, filters, ionizers and sprays
do not eliminate the cause of odors. Once the cause has been eliminated,
the odor does not come back unless the source that caused the odor is
reintroduced.
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